Co-operative Education
Gain business-related work experience while you study
Work experience to prepare you for the business world
The BComm Co-operative Education Program (Co-op) gives you the opportunity to apply in-class learning to a real-work environment. Co-op is 8-16 months of full-time paid work experience that helps you develop career-related skills before you graduate. Earn practical experience, develop a network of business contacts, and gain a better understanding of different career options in your field. Co-op students are able to talk about relevant work experience when they start interviewing for jobs upon graduation.
Applications Open
Co-op Application
Please attempt to submit your co-op application at least six months prior to the start of your intended work term. Application decisions can take up to four weeks.
You must attend Co-op Orientation before you can begin searching for a co-op placement.
Any questions?
Please contact coop@haskayne.ucalgary.ca.
Are you a prospective Co-op employer?
Please visit Employer Services.
Get ready to apply
All the answers you need to start your journey toward a rewarding co-op experience. Learn about application criteria, timelines and how to apply.
Accepted. What's next?
You've been accepted to the program and have been in close contact with the Career Development Specialists (CDS) in the Career Development Centre and the Co-op Academic Coordinator. These FAQs cover all of your next steps.
Benefits of the Co-op Program
Click below for more information on program benefits.
Important to note:
Students are NOT placed into Co-op work terms.
Instead, students are provided the tools and support to pursue work-experience opportunities available to them. Through the job search, application and interview, students learn life long skills to aid their future career journey.
Potential Co-op Work Terms – Not Found on Elevate (Haskayne Co-op Job Board)
While most students in the co-op program do find employment through the job boards on Elevate, you can find a Co-op work term that was not posted on our Haskayne Co-op Job Board. In order to qualify for a Co-op role it must meet the following requirements:
•The position must offer productive business related work to help students build on the skills learned in school
•Have an office environment with four or more co-workers
•There must be a supervisor to provide the student with guidance, opportunities to meet their learning objectives, and conduct a performance evaluation (form to be provided)
•There must be a guaranteed minimum of a 35 hour work/week for 13 weeks
- Co-op Work Terms: Winter – January to April, Spring/Summer – May to August, Fall – September to December
•Students must receive a salary
It is also necessary for your employer to understand and agree to support you as Co-op Student.
Supervising a Co-op student
•Supervisors must discuss goals and performance expectations with the Co-op student as well as read the student’s learning objectives and sign it.
•Supervisors need to be available for a mid-way check-in via phone or in-person site visit(where student’s performance is addressed).
•A final performance evaluation will need to be filled out by the supervisor (documents will be provided by the student).
•Supervisors are encouraged to provide ongoing feedback and mentoring to the Co-op student.
If the above requirements are met please then arrange a meeting with a Career Development Specialist to confirm the role will qualify as a Co-op work term. Bring a copy of the job description and offer letter for review.
Students should apply to the co-op program after they have completed 30 units towards their BComm and before they have completed 90 units (typically in their 2nd year of the BComm program). To note: students can not start their first work term before they have completed 54 units towards their BComm. Carefully degree planning with a Program Specialist is highly recommended, in order to complete the academic courses required before a work term begins.
Students must complete a minimum of two co-op work terms and can do a maximum of four.
Types of industries students have worked in:
- Energy
- Finance
- Government
- Information Technology
- Public Accounting
- Telecommunications
- Transportation
Types of positions students have held:
- Accounting Assistant
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Business Analyst
- Customer Service Account Representative
- Financial Analyst
- Human Resources Analyst/Coordinator
- Internal Audit Assistant
- Marketing Communications Coordinator
- Investment Analyst
- Market Risk Analyst
- Market Assistant
- Operations Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Software Support Student
- Staff Analyst
The Haskayne Co-operative Education program gave Omar & Zuzanna real work opportunities.
The BComm Co-operative Education Program (Co-op) provides students with the opportunity to apply their in-class learning to a real-work environment. Earn practical experience, develop a network of business contacts, and gain a better understanding of different career options in your field.
I secured my final Co-op work term at the Canadian Embassy in Germany. I had a diverse range of projects including arranging meetings with the Prime Minister and contributing to reports sent back to Ottawa. It has been tremendously rewarding to be involved in such important projects and I’ve grown personally and professionally.
Kelsey Wiggers
BComm'20
My biggest takeaway from my Co-op terms was realizing what areas of focus did not fit with my interests & skills. This helped me figure out what I was passionate about and allowed me to better tailor my remaining courses. My advice for incoming Co-op students would be to have an open mind; go in with a positive outlook and be open to being challenged.
Christina Chow
BComm'19